In Italy in the early 50’s, a car was a very simple motorized vehicle, available only to the very privileged few. In my lifetime, we have seen the extraordinary evolution of the car, which today is now accessible to everyone through car sharing schemes, and can even drive and think for itself. This exponential technological progress – which we have seen everywhere, not just in the automotive industry – has been enabled in large part by electrical energy.
My challenge as the CEO of Enel is to make this progress – facilitated by energy – much more sustainable for the soon-to-be-9 billion inhabitants of our planet.
Energy utilities enabled the first industrial revolution, and historically can lay claim to having empowered progress very widely. Recently, however, the industry has fallen behind, convinced of its insulation from the technological disruption we have seen impacting on all areas of the global economy. In 2008, together with a group of Enel colleagues, I committed myself to considering an alternative way, and drove the growth of Enel Green Power. We succeeded in creating an industrial reality where renewable energy was not just an ethical choice, but also the best way to create value for shareholders, clients, local communities, as well as future generations. This same strategic approach is what drives me now that I am the Group CEO of Enel.
Today, Enel’s challenge is not that of remaining a leader of the energy industry, but to continue to guide the sector in its transition; showing that when new challenges arise, what we really need are innovative answers. To this end, Enel has repositioned itself: we call this new strategic approach Open Power.
I’m incredibly proud of the work that our 69,000 colleagues in over 30 countries put into our company every single day, in service of our 70 million customers. It’s a profound commitment that allows Open Power to have a real impact on the energy world, creating a tangible, sustainable change for everyone.